Yeezy Turns 40: Team CASSIUS Ranks 40 Favorite Kanye Lyrics

Happy Birthday, Mr. West!

Whether you love him or hate him, it’s likely Kanye West has made you feel alive in some way. There’s Kanye the man: a loving father, husband, thinker, and tortured soul searching for some way to remedy the sudden loss of his dear mother, Donda West. Kanye the musician: a genius with words and production, boasting seven platinum albums and 21 Grammys. Kanye the designer: a relentless creator ranting and kicking his feet until the higher ups support his vision and give him a seat at the table. Each version of Kanye has provoked the world to speak, debate, have an opinion, and ultimately, grow. We’ve all learned so much through his angst, vulnerability, and that unwavering confidence you rarely find in people. A wise friend once asked, “Can you imagine what the world would be like if we all had that level of conviction and trust in ourselves?”

So, while we don’t necessarily love Kanye’s blond hair, the way he’s slut-shamed Amber Rose over the years, or his odd endorsement of #45, we have this unexplainable respect for him and the way he lives his truth. ‘Ye is a true and torn Gemini.

Today, Yeezy celebrates his 40th birthday. In honor of his genius, Team CASSIUS gathered 40 of our favorite Kanye West lyrics.

1. James Love: “Even if you in a Benz, you still a n-gga in a coupe.” (“All Falls Down”)

2. Bruce Goodwin: “You want a boss or an R&B nigga with a six pack?” (“Highlights”)

3. King Sukii: “I talked to God about you. He said he sent you an angel – and look at all that he gave you.” (“Only One”)

16. James Love: “I’m just trying to say the way school need teachers, the way Kathie Lee needed Regis, that’s the way I need Jesus.” (“Jesus Walks”)

17. Xilla Valentine: “Coke on her Black skin made it stripe like a zebra, I call that jungle fever. You will not control the threesome, just roll the weed up until I get me some.” (“No Church In The Wild”)

33. Shani Saxon: “When our heroes and heroines got hooked on heroin, crack raised the murder rate in DC and Maryland. We invested in that it’s like we got Merrill-Lynch and we been hanging from the same tree ever since.” (“Crack Music”)